Carolina's Kris Jenkins doesn't like Warren Sapp. And he dislikes him so much that last season, while injured, he resorted to drinking to deal with a home loss to Sapp's Raiders. I'm not aware of any history between the two, but Jenkins didn't mince words: "I hate him...He talks too much, he doesn't make sense, he's fat, he's sloppy, he acts like he's the best thing since sliced bread. He's ugly, he stinks, his mouth stinks, his breath stinks, and basically his soul stinks, too."

Note to self: Be sure to use mouthwash before approaching Kris Jenkins.

It's kind of cool in a way that Jerry Rice is wearing the same number in Denver that Joe Montana wore in Kansas City. I guess the thing I find odd here is that Rice says, "With the Rod Smith situation, there was no way I was going to come in here and try to take that jersey off his back because I have so much respect for him." So how much respect does Rice have for Steve Largent?

Oh, this is not going to turn out well. Last year after the 49ers were forced to undergo "diversity training," PR director Kirk Reynolds put together a video to help players learn how to interact with the city of San Francisco -- featuring racial humor, jabs at Mayor Gavin Newsom, a spoof of gay marriage, and a trio of topless blondes frolicking with Reynolds. Now there's scandal in the Bay Area and Reynolds is looking for another job.

Peter King makes his NFC pick, based primarily on the defensive additions in Minnesota and the idea that trading Randy Moss is a good thing, addition by subtraction. He also has news that Todd Marinovich was arrested last year for possession of drug paraphernalia and listed his profession as "unemployed artist," heh heh.

What would a Friday afternoon be without Len Pasquarelli? Today he starts by addressing the issue of revenue sharing and the owners' deal with the players. Jerry Jones feels more optimism than he has any reason to feel: "We'll find an answer, because we have to, and everyone knows that. But what [the solution] is, well, I don't know yet. I don't think anyone does, really."

In theory this might be a good idea, but then again, so was instant replay. Whatever the case, last season safety Roy Williams was responsible for four of the six serious injuries caused by the 'horse-collar' and this, in part, led owners to ban the maneuver. Next season it will be a 15-yard penalty. In 2006, the league will go to two-hand tag, and by 2010, it hopes to have transitioned to full-on flag football status.

Troy Brown took less money to return to New England instead of signing with New Orleans. "Hometown discount," right? Not really. While Brown gave up more playing time in New Orleans, he didn't give up more money, because a promotional deal he has with TD Banknorth pays him enough money to make up the difference in football salary. This is one of those economic variables we don't often think about when comparing contracts, but not the only one.

The Steelers are beginning life after Plaxico. They currently have Hines Ward, Antwaan Randle El and Cedrick Wilson as their top three wideouts and Ward is the tallest at 6'0". With Burress and his 6'5", 225 lb. frame now in New York, Pittsburgh receivers will have to rely on speed, quickness, and scheme to get open. Which begs the question: can teams be successful throwing downfield without having a tall WR? Randy Moss is the prototype, but for every Moss there are enough "long-term project" 6'4" - 6'5" WRs to make a nice NDBL team.

Peter King does a nice job of finding an interesting topic during the off-season. He looks at the great teams in the modern era (since the AFL) and counts up how many Hall of Famers each team has. Is there an anti-Cowboys bias? Read this to find out.

One note: I can't for the life of me figure out why Russ Grimm isn't in the Hall of Fame. I was still fairly young when the Redskins were winning their titles in the '80s, but as I remember, Grimm was about as good a blocker as the league has seen. Does anyone have thoughts about why Grimm isn't in?

Tony Kornheiser goes from specifically wondering what Sean Taylor is thinking when he doesn't return Joe Gibbs's phone calls, to generally asking whether this type of stuff is a problem pervasive among former University of Miami players and Drew Rosenhaus clients.

In the case of the Redskins, the fact that Clinton Portis is Taylor's self-appointed spokesperson (and that he says Taylor just needs some time to chill after a long season) is reason enough for Gibbs to want to return to racing. (free registration/bugmenot required)